Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

Whether he plans to review the way children's palliative care is (a) planned and (b) funded.

I have tasked officials to look at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.There are currently no plans at a national level to run a modelling exercise to determine how much the NHS should spend on the health elements of children’s palliative care.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the Housing Benefit earnings disregard from £5 to £57 for young people.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.Like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit has an income taper. As Housing Benefit may be claimed by those both in work and out of work, there are no rules around the number of hours that someone may work; instead, there are income tapers which apply. The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health. However, the treatment of earnings in Housing Benefit is less generous than that of Universal Credit. Therefore, although customers living in Supported Housing are better off working than doing no work at all, they can be financially better off limiting the hours they work to ensure they retain a small amount of Universal Credit entitlement.Changing the current rules would require a fiscal event and funding at a Budget. As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.

Whether she plans to review the regulations on the use of e-scooters on roads.

Until changes are made, private e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements. In the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which is part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. The Government will consult thoroughly and publicly before any regulations on e-scooters come into force.

If he will make an assessment of the equity of access to the shingles vaccine.

Previously, the shingles vaccine was available to people turning 65 and 70 years old, up until their 80th birthday, and to severely immunosuppressed individuals aged 50 years old and over.As of 1 September 2025, approximately 300,000 more people have become eligible for shingles vaccination, with all severely immunosuppressed individuals aged 18 years old and over now being eligible for the shingles vaccine. Individuals who are severely immunosuppressed are most at risk of serious illness and complications from shingles, and so the decision has been made to follow the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), to lower the age of eligibility to protect the most vulnerable.For immunocompetent individuals, the current offering to adults aged 65 and 70 years old was agreed by the Department, the UK Health Security Agency, and NHS England. This decision was made following the JCVI’s advice, an assessment of the effective use of National Health Service resources, and careful consideration of individual risk and population benefit.Analysis shows that the difference in risk and vaccine effectiveness between an individual aged 66 to 69 years old and a 70-year-old is likely to be marginal. This was taken into consideration when planning the expansion of the vaccination programme for immunocompetent adults, which maintains the original offer for those turning 70 years old while also providing another cohort with the opportunity for vaccination.

How much additional income was raised from the (a) increase in the National Insurance rate in April 2025 and (b) lowering of the National Insurance threshold.

Estimates for the additional static revenue expected to be raised from the employer NICs changes, announced at Autumn Budget 2024 and which came into force in April 2025, can be found in the OBR Supplementary forecast information on static costing of changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions. Further information, including on behavioural impacts can be found in Chapter 3.8 of the OBR Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the eligibility rules for child benefit on high earning single parents.

The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), including its potential impact on high earning single parents. However, introducing a threshold for single parents, or basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes, would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out. By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.

If he will ensure that the National Cancer Plan for England includes targets to improve the diagnosis times of myeloma.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers such as myeloma, as well as other unstageable cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, in order to improve outcomes.To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

How much money was saved following the means-testing of the winter fuel allowance in 2024-2025, net of the increase in successful Pension Credit claims during the same period.

Linking Winter Fuel Payment eligibility to Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits in England & Wales for winter 2024/25 was estimated to save around £1.3 billion, inclusive of an estimated increase in Pension Credit take-up of five percentage points as a result of the policy change. This figure has been published in the Office of Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook (October 2024), available here: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/OBR_Economic_and_fiscal_outlook_Oct_2024.pdf. Final 2024/2025 expenditure figures for Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Credit will be available in the next edition of the Benefit Caseload and Expenditure tables.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing taxation arrangements on the lending or staking of crypto assets.

The government has engaged in detail with industry on the tax treatment for the lending and staking of cryptoassets, following the previous consultation on this issue. The government will be responding to the industry in due course.

How many employees paid National Insurance in June 2025.

The ONS and HMRC publish monthly data on Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information (PAYE RTI): Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK - Office for National Statistics The table below sets out the number of Employees from March 2025 to June 2025 (inclusive) who have made Class 1 Employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in that month. March 2025April 2025May 2025June 2025Number of Employees with Class 1 Employee NICs24,512,00024,465,00024,522,00024,658,000 Notes:Data is taken from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) Real-Time-Information (RTI)Rounded to the nearest thousandData for the 2025/26 tax year (April 2025 to June 2025 inclusive) may be subject to revisions as new data is receivedData has not been seasonally adjusted

If she will consider introducing a 2 per cent levy on football transfers over £10 million.

The government is committed to ensuring the long-term health of English football at all levels. At this moment in time, the government is not considering a levy on football transfers.

How many employees paid National Insurance in April 2025.

The ONS and HMRC publish monthly data on Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information (PAYE RTI): Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK - Office for National Statistics The table below sets out the number of Employees from March 2025 to June 2025 (inclusive) who have made Class 1 Employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in that month. March 2025April 2025May 2025June 2025Number of Employees with Class 1 Employee NICs24,512,00024,465,00024,522,00024,658,000 Notes:Data is taken from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) Real-Time-Information (RTI)Rounded to the nearest thousandData for the 2025/26 tax year (April 2025 to June 2025 inclusive) may be subject to revisions as new data is receivedData has not been seasonally adjusted

How many additional rate taxpayers have left the UK in relation to their tax liabilities in the last 12 months up to 1 August 2025.

Taxpayers are not always required to inform HM Revenue and Customs when they leave the UK. Some taxpayers outside of Self Assessment might file a P85 form after leaving the UK, but only where they are seeking to claim a repayment of income tax. Taxpayers in Self Assessment can indicate that they have become non-resident after leaving the UK, but tax returns for the 2024 to 2025 and the 2025 to 2026 tax years are not due to be received by HMRC until 31 January of 2026 and 2027 respectively.

If she will publish the most recent statement of accounts for the National Insurance Fund.

The most recent statement of accounts for the GB and NI National Insurance Funds were published on 27 November 2024 and relate to the 2023-24 financial year. The respective National Insurance Fund accounts for the 2024-25 financial year will be published shortly.

How many employees paid National Insurance in May 2025.

The ONS and HMRC publish monthly data on Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information (PAYE RTI): Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK - Office for National Statistics The table below sets out the number of Employees from March 2025 to June 2025 (inclusive) who have made Class 1 Employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in that month. March 2025April 2025May 2025June 2025Number of Employees with Class 1 Employee NICs24,512,00024,465,00024,522,00024,658,000 Notes:Data is taken from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) Real-Time-Information (RTI)Rounded to the nearest thousandData for the 2025/26 tax year (April 2025 to June 2025 inclusive) may be subject to revisions as new data is receivedData has not been seasonally adjusted

How many employees paid National Insurance in March 2025.

The ONS and HMRC publish monthly data on Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information (PAYE RTI): Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK - Office for National Statistics The table below sets out the number of Employees from March 2025 to June 2025 (inclusive) who have made Class 1 Employee National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in that month. March 2025April 2025May 2025June 2025Number of Employees with Class 1 Employee NICs24,512,00024,465,00024,522,00024,658,000 Notes:Data is taken from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) Real-Time-Information (RTI)Rounded to the nearest thousandData for the 2025/26 tax year (April 2025 to June 2025 inclusive) may be subject to revisions as new data is receivedData has not been seasonally adjusted

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of funding (a) ICBs and (b) NHS trusts to purchase private hospitals.

The Government is committed to delivering an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan. We recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare services requires safe, sustainable, and effective infrastructure. That is why we prioritised investment in healthcare at the recent Spending Review, delivering the largest ever health capital budget.The New Hospital Programme is transforming the design and delivery of new hospital infrastructure and there are no plans for other national programmes of new hospital development or acquisition at this time. At a local level, integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS Trusts are responsible for infrastructure planning, managing the operational capital allocations for their respective local areas, and acquiring new facilities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure there is sufficient future supported housing to meet demand.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 69642, on 4 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether the forthcoming long-term housing strategy will address the (a) viability and (b) supply of supported housing.

The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year. For obvious reasons, we do not intend to share details about tis content ahead of publication.

What administrative steps her Department takes in relation to an overseas care worker whose sponsorship visa has (a) expired or (b) been terminated.

There are no unique arrangements for care workers whose leave has expired and have been unable to find a suitable full-time vacancy in the sector prior to the expiration of their leave.Individuals would be expected to regularise their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK.Where employment has been terminated due to a sponsor being revoked or suspended, the worker is signposted to the relevant Regional Partnership for support.